Worried about curses reportedly heaped on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahood Yakubu in prayers by a group recently, Northern Muslim Clerics under the aegis of Pray for Nigeria Forum (PNF) on Sunday organised a prayer session to reverse the curses, as they commended the INEC Chairman for what they described as fair and credible general elections in 2023.
Sunday Sun reports that a group , Nigeria Youths National Prayer Day recently organized a prayer session titled: “Curse be unto Prof Mahmood Yakubu” .
But in a counter reaction, the Muslim Clerics held that it would amount to great disservice to the nation for any group to lay curse on the same election umpire that presided over a relatively rated elections considered as the first successful and credible elections in Nigeria.
The Clerics during the prayer session held in Kaduna, according to the paper, prayed against the curse and urged God to grant Prof . Yakubu the wisdom and knowledge to conduct more credible and acceptable elections.
The Clerics, who recited various verses of Quran, also passed a vote of confidence on the INEC Chairman for his “unwavering efforts and invaluable contributions to ensure a united Nigeria, despite threats and predictions of break-up”.
While kicking against the claim that INEC allegedly sold the 2023 election to the highest bidder, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Muslim Clerics appealed to Christian Clerics across Nigeria to preach messages of peace and unity always.
In a chat with reporters shortly after the event ,Imam Mohammed Awal Adam, the Coordinator of the Prayer session, said: ”It will be unfair not to acknowledge the record of performance of INEC during the concluded 2023 general elections and subsequent staggered elections across the country.
“For a man that organised an election,where opposition parties won seats and states that were originally strong holds of the ruling party is enough reasons to commend Prof. Yakubu instead of the subjective condemnations in some quarters.
“Before we arrived this venue for the prayer , we did a review of the 2023 general elections and observed that the electoral process has improved tremendously compared to what was obtainable in the past”.
While noting that no religion permits anyone to curse a leader, but rather pray for leaders always for directions and guidance, he said: “It is the responsibility of religious leaders , irrespective of faith and ethnic backgrounds to ensure the messages they preach at our various worship places are such that promote love and unity among adherents”.
Imam Adam urged Nigerians to shun the divisive tendencies and engage government through constructive criticism that could help to identify grey areas that require adjustments.
“We are appealing to Nigerians to look beyond 2023 elections and jettison the idea of retrogressive growth and development .
“In our view, Prof Yakubu has conducted most peaceful election in Nigeria, especially on the account of rancour free process and people not killed during the elections with considerations that opposition parties won some critical states,thus our decision to pray for him, “Imam Adam added.
